Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (“Horizon” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) recently announced that James D. Neff will retire as President of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Horizon Bank, on March 31, 2022 after more than 22 years of service to Horizon.

“Jim has been a valued leader since joining Horizon more than two decades ago and integral to our growth from just $400 million in assets in 1999 to the more than $7-billion-asset financial institution Horizon is today,” Chairman and CEO Craig M Dwight said.  “Jim’s commitment to this company, his colleagues, customers and the communities we serve have been second to none. On behalf of all of us at Horizon, I thank him for his service, leadership and friendship.”

Jim joined Horizon in 1999 as Senior Vice President of Mortgage Warehouse Lending and he was promoted to Executive Vice President of Horizon in 2004. He has served as President of Horizon Bank since 2018, overseeing retail banking, community reinvestment, retail mortgage, warehouse lending and consumer lending. Prior to joining Horizon, he was Vice President of Mortgage Warehousing with the former Civitas Bank, which has since been acquired by Fifth Third. Jim began his banking career in 1978 with First of America Bank, LaPorte. 

During his tenure with Horizon, Jim played a key role in the Company’s expansion and growth as it completed 15 bank mergers and expanded into 12 new markets.  In 2021, he led his team to achieve record mortgage production. Since 2004, he has been a member of Horizon’s Diversity Business Council and helped to lead the expansion of the bank’s diversity programs and initiatives.

Active in the local community, both personally and professional, Jim currently serves on the Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum Advisory Board and is a member of the Michigan City Rotary Club and the Indiana Bankers Association’s Forty Year Club.  In 2021 Jim was awarded the Leaders in Banking Excellence award by the Indiana Bankers Association.  In addition, he has previously served as President and campaign chairman of the Greater LaPorte County United Way.

Jim graduated from Purdue University North Central with a degree in liberal arts and business administration.  Upon his retirement, he plans to spend his time in Indiana and Florida with his wife Kathy and their four children and three grandchildren.